Painting outdoors whether rain, hail or shine has scored three Illawarra artists a spot on the wall at NSW Parliament House as finalists in the Plein Air Painting Prize. Warrawong’s Evan Salmon, Thirroul’s Ashley Frost and Shell Cove postman Richard Claremont are part of 45 finalists selected for the $20,000 award, the winner announced on October 11. Salmon, a previous winner of the prize, has been shortlisted for his work View over Port Kembla (from my backyard); Frost for his work Sirus Cove and Claremont for his work ‘Echo Point’. To paint en plein air is to paint entirely out of doors. It was first popularised by the likes of Monet and Renoir before coming to Australia through Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. Contemporary plein air artists have upheld this tradition, albeit with a few tweaks. This year’s finalists include a mixture of established artists and up-and-coming talent. All works will be on free public exhibition at Sydney’s Parliament House until October 27, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. It comes as northern Illawarra artist, writer and comedian Anh Do was awarded the Archibald’s People’s Choice Award on Wednesday, October 4.

Illawarra artist Evan Salmon a finalist again in the NSW Parliament House Plein Air Painting Prize

Evan Salmon, a previous winner of the prize, has been shortlisted for his work 'View over Port Kembla (from my backyard)', which will be on display alongside the 44 other finalists in the Plein Art Painting Prize. Picture: Supplied

Painting outdoors whether rain, hail or shine has scored three Illawarra artists a spot on the wall at NSW Parliament House as finalists in the Plein Air Painting Prize.